Counterbalanced flagpole



Jan. 11 192 7 L. PH. BOLANDER COUNTERBAhANCED FLAGPOLE 5 Sheets-8%et 1 3 wum 14 oz Filed March 2. 1926 1927' L. PH. BOLANDER COUNTER-BALIANCED FLAGPOLE Jan. 11

Filed March' 2. 1926 5 Shets-Sheet s Gu se-ma Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

LOUIS PH. BOLANDER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFGRNIA.

COUNTERBALANCED FLAGPOLE.

Application filed March 2, 1926.

The invention relates to a counterbalanced flag pole.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of counterbalanced flag poles and to provide a simple, practical and eflicient counterbalanced flag pole of strong, durable and comparatively inexpensive construction adapted to be mounted in a variety of ways either in the ground or upon a building or other structure and capable of being readily lowered from a vertical to a horizontal position for renewals at the top and for repainting, thereby insuring preservation and lasting qualities and at the same'time eliminating dangerous climbing of the pole. i

A flag pole when installed may be straight and afterwards become sprung or crooked and it is the object of the invention to equip the counterbalanced flag pole with means for plumbing the pole both in the direction of the pivotal movement of the pole and at right angles to the same to enable the pole to be maintained in a true perpendicular position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of counterbalanced flag.

pole which will permit a free circulation of air around the pole and the means for mounting and adjusting the same.

With these and other objects in View the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a counter- 7 balanced flag pole constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4lt of Fig. 2.

substantially on the line 5 cf g- 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken Fig. 6 is a detail Serial No. 91,855.

vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 4:.

F 1g. 7 is a perspective view of the counterbalanced flag pole with the hinged channel sections in an opening position ant the pole lowered.

.[n the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention 1 designates a pivotally mounted pole designed to be constructed of wood or any other suitable material and provided adjacent to its lower end with a horizontal opening 2 through which passes a horizontal shaft or pivot 3 projecting laterally from opposite sides of the pole and having its terminals 4 arranged in bearing recesses 5 of adjustable bearing blocks 6. The pole is equipped at opposite sides at the ends of the opening 2 with closure plates 7 preferably of rectangular form and arranged in recesses 8 inrthe side faces of the pole in flush relation with clearly illustrated in the walls of which pivot 3 and form the said side faces as Fig. 4 or the drawings.

tightly fit the shaft or bearings and the said plates are adapted to exclude moisture from the interior of the By this construction the pole is prevented from rotting or deteriorating at the opening pole at the opening 2.

2 and the life of the pole is materially increased. The plates 7 are secured to the pole by transverse p ins 10 piercing the pole and the plates and secured to the latter by be ng headed in countersunk openings in the plates but any other suitable fastening means may, of course, be employed as will be readily understood.

The side faces of the pole are spaced from the adjacent bearings 6 by means of collars 11 arranged on the ends of the horizontal pivot 3 and interposed between the pole and the adjustable bearing blocks as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The horizontal pivot 3 permits, the pole to swing from a vertical position to a horizontal posi- W tion for repainting and for renewing the top of the pole or similar purposes and access is thus afforded to all portions of the pole without the danger and inconvenience of climbing the sainc' The bearing bloc spaced vertically members 12 an ks 6 are arranged in disposed channel bars or they aretapered to fit the inner side faces of conventional channel is as clear ly shown Fig 4 but the channel members and the adjustable bearing blocks (3 may be of any other desired onfiguration. By fitting snugly the walls of the channels 13 the adjustable bearing blocks 6 are firmly pressed against horizontal move ment in an outward direction and also longitudinally 01" th ecurely clamped in the channels 13 by means of screws Ll provided at their inner ends with heads and having outer threaded ends engaging threaded openings in theweb o-reonnecting portion'soithe channel memhere. The adjustable hearing blocks 6 are prov' led with vertical slots 15 through ed in vertical threaded openings 18" in the bearing blochsand" arranged in pairs anc' locatedat oppositdsid'es ot the ends-"Lot the horizontal pivot- The screws 'l-t and 17 are provided with polygonally arranged rece'i ring heads to bereadily turned to effect an adjustinent otthe bearing blocks. ny raising and lowering theadj-ustable bearing bier-ken the pole may be 'truedor plumbed in a direction at right angles to the pivotal or swinging movement of the pole and the plumbing of the latter inthe direation o'E the'swinging orpirot al movement eii'ectei by means of opposite adjusting devices mounted onhorizont'al connecting'bars l9 and 20' secured at their terminals to the flanges of the' channel members at the outer faces thereof-as clearly illustrated in Fig; 5 of the drawings. located adjacenflthe 'hiwei' end ot the pole and the/connecting hurl!) may be riveted to the channel members as indicated at 21" in Fig. while'the connecting bar- 20 is detaclr ably secured to the channelmembers by" screws 21 wluch permit the connecting bar 2 with its adjusting de ice to he removed 'l'romthe channel nienilircrs'when it iSd-cSired to swinodhe poletroni u verti-cul to a horirentalposition. The "zltljtlStlllg device carried" by the connecting; bar 19 conc'si a.

screw at'one end-andprovided witlrwiw lock nut 533!- The adjusting screw 22- passes thrm'ieh' a' tl'areaded perforation in the connecting" bar 19 and the locli'nut engages the i The screw 22 terms an outer 'face' thereof adjustable abutment for the pole and limits the swing of the lower portion in onedi r( lion. 'lfh'e' adj list ng means carried by the connecting bar ZU-cousists of an adjusting mounted in a threaded perforation scre v of the conneetingb'ar 20 and abutting at its inner 'end against'th'e pole: The screw 25 hearing; blocks which are The adjusting;means are" will tend to force the lower portion of the pole-in the direction'otthe connecting bar 19 and will cooperate with the adjusting means thereof in maintaining the pole firmly in its adjusted position; The adjusting screw 25 is provided with a lock nut 26 which abuts "against the out r face of the connecting bar 20. The inner end of the adjusting screw 22 and 25 abut against the plates ll of the pole and they do not interfere with the vertical adjustment of tl e pole. r-..ny number of the adjusting screws 22 and 25 may be employed.

The horizontal adjusting screws are adapted to true or'plumb the pole in one direction'and the vertical adjusting screws in a. direction at rightangles to the-pole adjustment 01 the horizontal screws. The vertical adjusting screws which extend en= tirely throughandprojeetb'elow the vertically' adjustable--bearing blocks have their lower ends arranged in-seats 27 consisting of circular 1"C'SS6S-fO1D1QCl'ln the upper faces of stationary 'Slll )PO1tlHg" blocks -28 con-forming to the configuration of-t-he channels-of the vertical members 12 and secured in the said channels'by rivets 29 orother suitable fastei'iiiig devices; The supporting blocks 28' arelocut-ed below-=thebearing blocks and provide-rigid supporting mean orthe'loiw' or ends of the 'adjust ,q'screws asclearly ill ustra red "in l 'i (i of the" drawings.

The vertical channel members-12 which constitute the mainsupporting 'ieans for the pivot of the pole are connected byupper and lower horizontal connecting'bars 230 and The upper I connecting bar 30is located at the same side of the poleas-the connecting ai' l9-and the lower portion olf th'e pole swings aw;-i'y='tron the connecting bar30 in the operation of lowering the'polcl to a horizontal 'positioirand the said upper bar :30 is located at sulli'cient distance below the horizontal plzu-ie-ol the pivot so as not to interlcre with the swiii'ging movement oi? the pole in the raising and lowering movements. "lhed-owerconnecting bars Ell are located belowtheloaver end oi the pole and thecountier-balancing means hcre'inal'ler escribed and dr rnot interferewith tl16". \\lll {Jj !l f inoreinentol"thepole. Anynlunber (7 the connecting bar may be employed ai'uil tliey may be arranged in any suitable manner which will not intrl ere w-ith the pirotal or swinging movement of tlie-'pole;

The spaces between the vertical members 12 are closedatopposite-sides the-reel by vertical hinged channel members each connectedkit one ol 'it-s 'sideflanges by suitable hinge's ilil to one o'f th'e channel menrbcrs lion-d arrange'dtr abutagai-nst' the other channel member wheir in closed position as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The hinged channel'inenibers32 are adapted to beswun'g open to atlord' access to thelovven lllll portion of the pole and they are held in elosed position by detachable ornamental base members 8 1-. The base members 3% which [it against the lower portions of the hinged channel members are provided with laterally extending flanges which are detachably secured to stationary base members ill-3 by screws 37 which are mounted in suitable threaded openings in the stationary base members 2-36. When it is desired to adjust the pole or lower the same to a horizontal position the detachable base members are removed and the hinged channel members are open. This will afford access to the interior. The stationary and detachable base sections are provided with ornamental top portions 88 and are also preferably of an ornamental character and the upper ends of the hinged and statioi'uiry channel members 32 and 12 are provided with ornamental cap I) r 1 pieces 09. The channel members and the base sections may be ornan'iented in any desired manner and the channel structure will allord a free circulation of air-through the device and around the pole and the adjusting means for the same.

The pole is counterbalanced by means of a counterbalancing weight composed of a plurality of similar metal plates 40 fitted flat against each other and arranged with their flat faces in a vertical position as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The plates 40 are connected together and are also secured to hanger plates 41 by means of horizontal rods orbol s 42 preferably arranged in pairs as shown and piercing the weight members or plates l0 and also the hanger plates 41. The hanger plates ll are secured to the pole at opposite sides thereof preferably in recesses 0t the pole with their outer faces in flush relation with the adjacent faces of the pole as clearly shown in Fig. 2 oi the drawings. These plates il extend below the lower end of the pole and the lower edges of the plates 40 which are arranged between and also at the outer sides of the hanger plates 4d. Any number of the weight members or plates .0 may be used to properly counterbalance the pole and they will enable the pole to be easily swung on its pivot 3 to lower the pole from a vertical position to a horizontal posit ion and to return it to its vertical posilion.

The pole support may be mounted in the ground in a concrete base or upon a building or any other structure and may be supported and braced in any other desired manner as will. be readily understood and the vertical members and the base sections will present an ornamental and attractive support for the pivoted pole.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a support, a pole having a pivot mounted upon the support and arr to permit the pole to swing from a vertical to a horizontal position and means for adjusting the pole in the direction of its pivotal movement and separate means tor adjusting the pole at right angles to the direc tion of its pivotal movement.

A device oi the class described including a support having spaced fixed supporting members, a pole pivotally mounted between the supporting members, hinged. members closing the space between the lined members and means for detachably securing the hinged members in their closed posit-ion.

3. A device of the class described comprising a support composed of fixed vertical members spaced apart and provided with bars, a pole having a pivot mounted in the bearings, hinged vertical men'ibers closing the space between the lined vertical members and detachable base sections securing the hinged members in their closed position.

l. A device of the class described comprising a support composed of fixed vertical members spaced apart and provided with bars, a pole having a pivot mounted in the bearings, hinged vertical members closing the space between the fixed vertical members and stationary and detachable base sections mounted respectively at the lower portions of the fixed and hinged members and detachably securing the hinged members m their closed position.

5. A device of the class described including spaced vertical members, bearing blocks carried by the vertical members and provided with spaced vertical adjusting screws for raising and lowering the bearing blocks, a pole having a pivot mounted in the bearing blocks and separate means for securing the bearing blocks in their vertical adjustment.

6. A device of the class described including vertical channel members, stationary supporting blocks secured in the channels of the members, adjustable bearing blocks arranged in the channels oi the members and provided with bearing recesses, a pole having a pivot mounted in the bearing recesses of the bearing blocks and means supported on the fixed blocks for raising and lowering the bearing blocks.

7. A device of the class described including vertical channel members, stationary supporting blocks secured in the channels of the members, adjustable bearing blocks being provided with vertical slots and fastening devices operating in the slots for clamping the bearing blocks in their adjustment.

8. A device of the class described compris ing vertical members, stationary supporting blocks mounted on the said members, bearing blocks provided with bearing recesses, vertical adjusting screws mounted in the bearing blocks and supported upon the fixed till blocks for raising and lowering the bearing blocks, said bearing blocks being provided with vertical slots, fastening devices operating in the vertical slots for clamping the same in their adjustment and a pole having a pivot arranged in the said bearing recesses.

9. A device of the class described including a vertical member, fixed supporting blocks secured to the said members and provided in their upper faces with seats,'adjustable bearing blocks guided by the said members and located above the fixed blocks and having threaded openings, vertical adjusting screws mounted in the threaded openings and having their lower ends fitted in the said seats, a polehaving a pivot journalled on and carried by the bearing blocks and means for clamping the bearing blocks in their adjustment.

10. A. device of the class described including a support having spaced vertical members, a pole having a pivot mounted upon the support, a connecting member extend ing across the space between the members and an adjusting device located below the pivot and mounted on the connecting bar for adjusting the pole to maintain the same in a vertical position.

11. A device of the class described including a support having spaced vertical members, a pole having a pivot mounted upon the support, connecting members secured to the vertical members, screws mounted on the connecting members and engaging the pole at opposite sides of the same.

12. A device of the class described includ mg a support having spaced vertical members, a pole having a pivot mounted upon the support, connecting members secured to the vertical members screws mounted on the connecting nembers and engaging the pole at opposite sides of the same, one of the adjusting devices being detachable to permit the pole to swing to and from a vertical position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LOUIS PH. BOLANDER. 

